Drought takes its toll on Columbus whitewater rafting course

COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) – The ongoing drought in Georgia has taken a toll on whitewater rafting on the Chattahoochee River.

Whitewater Express owner Dan Gilbert says that when the Chattahoochee River water flow slowed under drought-like conditions this summer, so did the rafting business.

Gilbert said that several times this summer, high-water rafting trips had to be canceled because “because we did not have the water.”

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports that the 2.5-mile urban whitewater course is managed by Uptown Whitewater Management LLC. Uptown Whitewater president Richard Bishop says it was a difficult season, but also a learning experience.

Bishop said the group is studying where rafters came from this summer, and it appears they saw more visitors from other parts of Georgia – particularly the Atlanta area – but fewer visitors from Alabama and Florida.

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